Angel Di Maria is showing off his rust-free skills after returning to Benfica.
Benfica won 2-1 over Vicella in the 5th round of the 2023-24 Portuguese Primeira Liga held at Estadio da Vicella in Vicella, Portugal at 4:30 am (Korean time) on the 17th. Benfica, who added 3 points, is in 2nd place in the league (12 points) with 4 wins and 1 loss in 5 games.
On this day, Benfica used a 4-2-3-1 formation. Musa was at the forefront, with Mario, Rafa, and Di Maria at the back. Kökçu and Neves formed the midfield, and the back four consisted of Orsnes, Otamendi, Silva, and Ba. Trubin wore the goalkeeper gloves. Vicella was countered by La Cava, Samu, Busnić and others.
Benfica took the lead with the first goal in the 9th minute of the first half. After receiving먹튀검증 Hapa’s pass, Musa attempted a shot immediately inside the penalty box. This hit the defense and was deflected, hitting the net. And they secured the win by scoring an additional goal in the 39th minute of the first half.
The main scorer was Di Maria. Di Maria took the free kick from the front of the penalty box and scored with a sharp left-footed shot. Although Benfica conceded one goal through a penalty kick in the 25th minute of the second half, they maintained their lead until the end and won 2-1. As a result, Benfica is on the rise with 4 consecutive wins since losing in the opening game.
At the center is Di Maria. Di Maria entered the European stage by joining Benfica in 2007. He performed outstandingly for three years, which led to his transfer to Real Madrid. He continued his good performance even after joining a big club. Di Maria contributed to Real winning the Spanish La Liga and the UEFA Champions League (UCL).
Afterwards, he headed to Manchester United for a huge transfer fee, but was left with only disappointment. In the end, he left for Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) after one season, and fortunately succeeded in making a comeback. He played a total of 295 games at PSG, scoring 93 goals and providing 11 assists, playing a key role in the attack.
Ahead of his last season, he moved to Juventus and took on a new challenge again. Even in his mid-30s, Di Maria played in 26 Italian Serie A games, scoring 4 goals and providing 4 assists. He also helped Argentina win the World Cup last November. He still showed his class and showed his strength in big games and on big stages.
Di Maria, who showed off his old skills, had his contract with Juventus expire this summer. Several teams, including the U.S. Major League Soccer (MLS) and the Saudi Arabian Professional League, have expressed interest in Di Maria. In particular, Saudi Arabia tempted Di Maria by offering a huge annual salary.
But Di Maria’s choice was not about money but romance. He only wanted his return to Benfica, which would have given him his first European cap. Benfica offered him a one-year contract, but Di Maria accepted. Considering that he is currently 35 years old, this is likely to be his last challenge on the European stage.
In the end, his return to his home team was accomplished. His contract lasts one year, until June 2024. Di Maria made his return in the Supertasha match against FC Porto in early August. And he scored his return goal, leading the team to a 2-0 victory. He continues to perform well in the league. Di Maria, who scored one goal in the opening game, has scored 3 goals and 2 assists in the last 3 games, including this game. Since his return to Benfica, he has been in his best form with 5 goals and 2 assists in 6 games.